Queens County Women’s Bar president seeks vacant Queens Council seat

Photo courtesy of Soma Syed

By David Brand

The Jamaica-based president of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association is vying for a different office — city councilmember in Central Queens’ District 24.

Attorney Soma Syed said she has filed the petitions necessary to appear on the ballot in the Feb. 2 special election to replace Rory Lancman, who left the Council earlier this month in order to take a job in Gov. Cuomo’s administration.

Syed said her progressive campaign is oriented around issues of justice for New York City’s lower-income and middle class communities, particularly when it comes to education, healthcare and policing.

She specifically proposes providing families with a stipend for remote learning,  empowering district attorneys to investigate complaints now directed to the Civilian Complaint Review Board and allowing communities — not just community boards — to cast advisory votes on land use measures.

“My entire professional life has been fighting for the needs of people on the margins,” Syed said. 

Syed was born in Bangladesh and immigrated to Queens at age 12. She earned her law degree from the Albany Law School of Union University, came back to her home borough and later opened her own solo practice.

“We live in a diverse community, so our needs are diverse,” she said. “We need a councilmember who has the experience of representing people and understanding how improving New York laws and policies can impact communities.”

At least seven candidates have filed to run in District 24, which includes Kew Gardens, Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, Jamaica Estates, Briarwood and part of Jamaica. 

The field features former Councilmember Jim Gennaro, progressive activist Moumita Ahmed, attorney Stanley Arden, Democratic District Leader Neeta Jain, higher education executive Dilip Nath, small business owner Deepti Sharma and Judicial Delegate Mohammed Uddin.